A two-part series for U.S. policymakers and anybody concerned with the question of how internet platforms should be regulated
Since the U.S. elections in 2016, politicians on both sides of the aisle have been eager to hold major internet companies accountable for the spread of disinformation, hate speech, and other problematic content online. Following revelations of foreign-born political disinformation campaigns and data exploited by companies like Cambridge Analytica, tech giants have made big promises to improve on these problems, but time and again, they have failed.
In this series, we take a critical look at what drives profits at Facebook, Twitter, and Google. All three tech giants have built their business models on targeted advertising and algorithmic systems that can drive the reach of a message by targeting it to people who are most likely to share it, and thus influence the viewpoints of thousands or even millions of people.
Technology companies will never be able to rid the internet of problematic speech. So instead of seeking to hold them liable for content posted by their users, regulators and advocates should focus on how content is amplified and targeted. A better solution would focus on reach rather than speech.
This report series draws from our pilot study on company policies about targeted advertising and algorithmic systems to propose effective approaches to curtailing the most problematic online speech. Armed with five years of research on corporate policies that affect online speech and privacy, we make a case for a set of policy measures that will protect free expression while holding digital platforms much more accountable for the effects of their business models on public discourse.
Our first report lays out the problems at hand and shows how simply reining in content will not lead to better outcomes for the digital public sphere, or for democracy. We then propose concrete recommendations for companies to improve outcomes and increase transparency. [PDF] [web version]
In our second report, we urge Congress to enact regulations to hold these companies to account, and offer concrete recommendations for regulating online advertising, protecting privacy, and improving corporate governance in this arena. [PDF] [web version]
We thank Craig Newmark Philanthropies for making this series possible.
RDR’s Nathalie Maréchal, speaking with The Verge
